Field Sobriety Test in Contra Costa County

Our Experienced DUI Lawyer Explains Your Rights

In order to request that you submit to a field sobriety test, the officer
must have reasonable suspicion for pulling you over in the first place.
Officers look for drivers who can’t maintain their lanes, driving
without their lights on, driving too fast or too slow, tailgating, and
other tell-tale signs. After they pull you over, they will likely ask
you to submit to a field sobriety test if they suspect you are driving
under the influence.

Knowing your rights can help you feel empowered in situations like this.
Ask our Contra Costa County field sobriety test attorney, Anthony Blalock
to review your case and explain your options. When it comes to DUI, The
Blalock Law Firm, PC is the most trusted source for honest, helpful information.

Are Field Sobriety Tests Mandatory in California?

You are not required to submit to the field sobriety test which is a comfort
to many because these tests can be difficult even for a sober person to
pass. Field sobriety tests are separate from the official chemical test.

In a field sobriety test, you'll be asked to do a number of exercises,
including:

Walk a straight line

Touch your nose with your pointer fingers

Stand on one foot

Follow a pen with your eyes

Recite the alphabet

Blow into a roadside Preliminary Alcohol Sensor (breathalyzer)

The officer uses these tests to determine whether or not he or she has
probable cause to arrest you for DUI. Since these tests can be unreliable,
their results are often disputed. The court is less likely to look at
the results of your test than they are to look at your blood or breath test.

Know How to Respond if You're Pulled Over

If you are pulled over and the officer begins an investigation for being
under the influence, we recommend you respectfully limit the amount of
information the office can gather against you. For example, the more you
speak the more opportunity the officer has to smell your breath and claim
you are slurring your words. Since you aren’t required to participate
in Field Sobriety Tests or blow into the road-side Preliminary Alcohol
Screening
breathalyzer, decline. This will force the officer to decided if they have the necessary
evidence (called “probable cause”) to legally arrest you with
less -vs- more information. Once arrested, you are required by law to
submit to either an official breath or blood test; refusal subjects you
to additional criminal charges and the potential for a longer DMV suspension
of your driver license. It is beyond the scope of this website to discuss
all the factors that go into evaluating whether to take a breath vs. blood test.

Contact our Contra Costa County field sobriety test attorney Anthony Blalock
as soon as you are able. We offer
free consultations at (925) 259-3270.

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The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

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